The Adventures of Captain Heman Godfrey Kenney And Lady Catherine Description The call of the sea sets Heman Kenney, a young captain from hunger-starved Ireland, on a journey across the ocean to the new world. Familiar events of the development of the new country of Canada unfold along side the blossoming love story between Captain Heman Kenney and his beloved Elizabeth. But the deeper emotions come from Heman as he struggles with the dark choices he made in the past. Will Elizabeth forgive Heman from the sins that haunt him? Evading American Civil War ships, the wrath of Queen Victoria and disgruntled natives, join Heman and his crew of misfits as they travel the open seas upon the other love of his life: the Lady Catherine. Christopher Paul Edward Wilcoxson.

The Adventures of Captain Heman Kenney and Lady Catherine 1833-1917

By Catherine Kenney Wilcoxson

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 Catherine Kenney Wilcoxson
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4490-0212-1

Contents

CHAPTER ONE Lady Catherine 1882................................................................................................1CHAPTER TWO Cork, Ireland 1833 (49 years earlier)..............................................................................19CHAPTER THREE "The Queer Mist From The Irish Sea"..............................................................................39CHAPTER FOUR The Lady Catherine Has a Captain..................................................................................61CHAPTER FIVE Fugitive Onboard..................................................................................................91CHAPTER SIX Black Gold - The Great Lie.........................................................................................119CHAPTER SEVEN New Beginnings...................................................................................................128CHAPTER EIGHT The Irish Coffee Company.........................................................................................153CHAPTER NINE A Fort On A Hill 1860.............................................................................................176CHAPTER TEN Elizabeth, My Sweet Elizabeth......................................................................................207CHAPTER ELEVEN Steal Away, Steal Away To Jesus.................................................................................224CHAPTER TWELVE The Great Escape................................................................................................259CHAPTER THIRTEEN Romance, Sweet Romance........................................................................................274CHAPTER FOURTEEN Do You, Heman Godfey Kenney, Take Elizabeth Janet to Be Your Lawful Wedded Wife ...? I do.....................299CHAPTER FIFTEEN Cork Ireland 1866..............................................................................................314CHAPTER SIXTEEN The Hated Cholera..............................................................................................342CHAPTER SEVENTEEN A Seagull ... Or a Stork? Spring 1867........................................................................364CHAPTER EIGHTEEN "Reuniting Again".............................................................................................380CHAPTER NINETEEN Dominion Day 1867.............................................................................................395CHAPTER TWENTY Watt Section 1868...............................................................................................417CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE "Fire!".....................................................................................................440CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Why Punish William?.........................................................................................466CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Time Comes Full Circle....................................................................................493CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Beyond the Lighthouse......................................................................................508END NOTES......................................................................................................................522

Chapter One

Lady Catherine

1882

The activity on Watt Section Wharf was slowing down on this cold March evening. The sun was sinking into the Atlantic. It looked like a red-hot ball falling from the sky into the frozen ocean. Red and orange streams of light lit up the heavens. The cold made its way through one's coat, and it could be felt in one's bones. It was a sign of another cold winter's night that was just beginning along the coast of Nova Scotia.

All the fishing boats were tied down. Only a few hours before, they made their way up the Straight of Watt Section. It looked like a parade as all the fishing boats passed by the lighthouse. She seemed to smile and welcome them home. Each boat had its own place to tie up to the wharf. When all were secured, the job of unloading the catch of the day began.

It was a good catch, unlike some other days when the men worked hard, only to find the nets sparse with fish. But not today. Everyone was in a grateful mood. Deep sea fishing was a hard and dangerous job. The ocean can be one's friend one day and a dangerous adversary the next - a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde complex. There was a feeling of relief, for the fishermen were back on land. The ocean didn't win today.

The Watt Section Wharf was filled to capacity. Horses pulling wagons lined up four deep. The fish peddlers were buzzing around like bees. Since this was winter time and the bees were deep in their hives waiting for spring, it was a curious sight.

Thomas, a six-foot giant of a man from Cape Breton, was first in line. He was ready. "Hey, Gerald, my man. Looks like you had a good one." Thomas could see Gerald standing in his boat up to his knees in fish.

"I thought you moved back to Cape Breton by now." Gerald passed him a friendly smile.

"I keep saying I'm going. But maybe things are beginning to look up here. Looks like you got some fish."

"It's about time, wouldn't you say? I swear they were asleep all winter and today they awoke. We were there to invite them into our boat." Gerald's laugh was light and private.

"Everyone at the fish packing plant will be happy," Thomas added. "We are tired of eating porridge and deer meat all winter."

Gerald was happy. He sold his whole catch to Thomas in five minutes.

As the fishermen unloaded their great catch and peddlers loaded their wagons, a cloud of screaming gulls hovered over their heads. The scraps of fish were thrown over the sides of the wharf, causing a war of the gulls. No table manners here - everyone for himself. The strong got most of it; the old and weak were lucky to get any. No one seemed to notice the great battle going on. The fishermen had seen it daily, and somewhere back in their minds, it was music to their ears. No war meant no fish; no fish meant lean times. The music being played out by the gulls was more then welcomed that day. Every available barrel on the wharf was filled with cod, halibut and herring. The peddlers went away happily, and the fishermen were left with a sense of accomplishment and a pocket full of money. Life was good.

The fishing boats were cleaned and now it was their turn to rest. Everything around them was quiet. The slapping of the salt water on their bows was a reminder that at sunrise they and their masters would repeat the journey offshore. The ocean would be calling and they would answer that call. The fishing boats always took whatever the ocean threw at them. But on this clear, cool night, they were safe in this small Harbour.

This wharf was home not only to the fishing boats, but a string of dories added to the colourful sight. The various colours of the dories came from leftover paint, which protected them from the salt water. The Harbour also had more than one schooner anchored. These schooners brought trade goods from far off lands daily. The dories were kept busy going to and fro carrying the wares from the schooners to the wharf. That too had stopped for the day.

Gerald and Lloyd were the last to leave the wharf. Gerald looked at Lloyd, "That's a beautiful sunset tonight."

"Yeah," replied Lloyd. "Red sky at night means morning delight; maybe we will have another fair day for fishing tomorrow."

"Yeah." Gerald wasn't much of a talker but he couldn't help himself from saying, "I never get tired of looking at the sun setting; each time I see it, it gives me great comfort. Like an old friend, you might not see that old friend every day, but you know he will be back. It's something you can count on."

"Go on," Lloyd said. "I didn't know you were a poet," laughing with a laugh that came deep from inside his stomach.

"Get on with ya! You are a narrow person who wouldn't understand," retorted Gerald.

"Didn't mean to get your back up! It was really pretty what you said. Tell me more."

Gerald looked at Lloyd and shook his head. "Enough talking; it never fails to get me nowhere."

Lloyd decided to try and smooth things over, "I know what you mean about the sunset. It's prettier than a picture. Looking out at the Harbour and seeing the schooners rocking up and down is like dancing on the current. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Just you and me, Gerald." As he was speaking, Lloyd put his arm around Gerald's shoulders. "Go on with ya!" Gerald's voice was loud as he jumped back.

Lloyd's laugher returned from the inside of his stomach. "All this laughing is making me hungry. Let's go home to the wives, Gerald. They will have something good cooking. It is good to go home with money in my pocket. The Mrs. will be smiling on me tonight." He winked at Gerald.

Gerald swore his face turned red, and he was too embarrassed to speak. As the men walked along the wharf, they could hear the cries of the gulls, as they made their way to Hen Island to roost for the night. The gulls could hardly fly, being heavy from their great feast. Some distance to their right, the light from the light house was silhouetted as she shone in the dusk of the evening. She began a long night's work, her light searching for a ship in need, while the men's work was finished for the day.

Lloyd cast his arm slightly right towards a schooner and said, "Now, that's the best of them all. Just look at her. She looks like a fine lady. Her name suits her, "Lady Catherine." Sounds like Royalty. Other schooners come and go, but not the Lady Catherine; she is queen of the Harbour. This is her home. When other schooners approach, they stop and bow. They ask her for permission to pass by to Sheet Harbour."

"Now who's being a poet?" Gerald chided.

"I must be catching it from you." Walking along in silence they soon rounded the bend of the road.

"I remember the day she sailed into the Harbour for the first time."

"Yeah, we all do. You ask anyone here in Watt Section and they will tell you what they were doing that afternoon when the Kenney's came sailing in. It changed our lives, it did. And that was for the good that is. A fine Captain Heman Kenney is," bragged Gerald.

Lloyd nodded as Gerald continued, "He's well respected around these parts. Everyone accepted him as though he was born here, even though he came from Ireland, he did. Brought Lady Catherine with him. He made a name for himself, and one can learn a lot from him, you can."

Gerald broke the rhythm of their stride as he searched for his leather tobacco pouch in his pants pocket. He filled his pipe and struck a wooden match on the bottom of his boot. "His children."

"Mainly lassies, are they not?" Lloyd interrupted. The deep rich earthy fragrance of Gerald's pipe smoke caused him to search in his pants pocket for his own pouch of tobacco.

"Yes, many lassies and one young lad. He had them rowing his dories taking supplies out to Lady Catherine. Never saw anything like it. He must be getting ready to sail on a trade trip. People look up to him, they do. He has made a name for himself for sure." For a time they continued their walk in silence, two pipes glowing as dusk turned to darkness.

"His Mrs."

"A fine looking lady she is."

Lloyd was used to Gerald interrupting, that was the kind of friendship they had. "Yes, Elizabeth is a friend to every woman in the Harbour, including my Mrs. and yours.

"Money too," Lloyd added.

"Money ...?" Gerald was lost in the moment and Lloyd was always changing the subject in mid stream.

"Not just a name, but Captain Kenney has made money. Just look over there, a fine house. The biggest house from here to Halifax, it is." As Lloyd and Gerald looked towards the well known Kenney Show House, they stopped in their tracks. They couldn't move. Unconsciously biting down hard on their pipes, they both saw it at the same moment. Fire. The one thing that brought fear to their inner being. Fire. The side of the great house closest to the water was afire. The fire was small, but it grew larger by the minute.

"Fire!" They finally could speak the word. Gerald and Lloyd yelled, "Fire!" Emptying their pipes and jamming them back into their pockets in unison, they ran as fast as they could towards Captain Kenney's house. The house was still a half mile away as they ran up the road. Lloyd jumped the fence and headed through the field. Gerald was right behind him. They both knew this was the shortest way to the house.

"Fire! Fire!" they both shouted as they desperately tried to close the distance between them and the fire. The snow was not deep, but it was still very slippery and slowed the progress of the two desperate men. Gerald and Lloyd thought they would never reach the house. "Gerald, you bang on the front door. I will meet you at the well."

There were twenty-four steps up to the wrap-around veranda. Gerald only used half of them to get to the top. He ran along the veranda, shouting, "Fire! Fire! Get out! Fire!" Still, there was no response. He banged on the door so hard that he thought it would break. Finally the door was opened by Captain Kenney himself.

"Your house is on fire!" Captain Kenney, "Your house is on fire!" Gerald watched as Captain Kenney's face turned white and then grey. Then he noticed a tenseness in the man's jaw and the wildness in his dark eyes.

Heman saw that his whole family had gathered in the foyer to see what all the commotion was about, and he turned into the great leader that he was. "Mary Elizabeth and Eliza." His eyes got their attention before his words were even out of his mouth. "Go to the kitchen - The anything that will hold water ..." Before he was finished, they were running to the kitchen. "Meet at the well." "Laura and Sarah, go with your mother and grandmother to the well." As he spoke, he glanced at his sweet wife Elizabeth. There was fear in her eyes. "Be strong, Elizabeth."

He didn't have to say the words. Elizabeth was the strongest woman he had ever known. Heman's mind flashed back to the cholera scare in the Harbour of Halifax. That was the birth of her great strength. Young she was, but he could still see her stamping her foot and clapping her hands, directing Moses, one of his officers on Lady Catherine. She had but a short time to clear their living quarters because there was cholera in the Harbour. His memory of her climbing aboard an over-loaded carriage in the middle of the night, heading for her parents home was one of pride. Any other woman would have fallen apart. But not his sweet Elizabeth ...

Alexander's crying jerked him back to the present. Heman looked over at his only son. His mind flashed again. There was another, William, named after his own brother. He died just two years ago. "Has it really been that long?" His racing mind returned and he spoke to Alexander, "Be strong my son; be a man. Help your mother." Alexander wiped away his tears with the back of his hand; he had decided to be a man, whatever a man could be at the age of six.

Gerald watched this tide of events happening in front of him as he might watch play acting on a stage. Heman certainly was the main character and everyone seemed to have a part to play. He was amazed how this man could make people take part and know their jobs without uttering a word. Heman didn't have to use harsh words. No, his words were full of love and concern and loyalty. The family obeyed because of love, not because the master had spoken. Gerald watched this as if it was happening in slow motion although only a few moments had passed.

Heman turned to Gerald. "Show Us." He knew Daniel, his father, would be right behind.

They ran to the east side of the house. On the roof by the chimney, flames danced in and out. "We will need a ladder! In the barn!" As they headed around the corner of the house towards the barn, they almost ran into Lloyd and Wayne carrying the coveted ladder.

"There is water in the rain barrel." Underneath the eaves of the house stood the barrel. The top was iced over, but was soon chipped away and the water could be seen. Mary Elizabeth, out of breath, appeared around the same corner carrying a bucket of water. "Just in time," Heman thought. His oldest child at the age of fifteen was as strong as her mother. He took the bucket from her and said, "Keep the rain barrel filled." She turned and disappeared in the darkness as quickly as she had appeared.

Daniel held the bottom of the ladder while Heman was the first one up. Reaching the top, the smoke stung his eyes. Then he began to cough. "Please, God, not now." Heman was pleading with God himself. His cough cleared and he was able to fill his lungs with the cold salt air. Opening his eyes, he could see the fire spreading along the roof. "It must be inside the attic by now," he thought. He threw the bucket of water on the flames. Turning around to make his way down, he met the eyes of Gerald. Gerald was over halfway up the ladder. He passed a full bucket of water to Heman.

"Give me your empty bucket," Gerald commanded. A bucket brigade had been started.

A bell was ringing. Gerald and Heman looked at each other. Heman yelled, "That's my Elizabeth!" Elizabeth was on the veranda by the front door. A bell was there, the same bell she used to say, "Welcome home," to Heman when she saw the Lady Catherine approach the Harbour. The same bell she used in farewell to Heman as he left her on his many trade trips. Tonight, she rang the bell for help.

"Alexander, come here!" commanded Elizabeth. "Ring the bell and don't stop." She knew the fire was on the other side of the house and Alexander would be in no danger.

Alexander in his best man's voice said, "I will ring it forever."

Lloyd turned to Wayne, "We need another ladder."

"Follow me." Wayne led the way as they entered the barn for the second time The only ladder Lloyd could see was the one to the hay loft. Wayne was already ripping it off the barn wall. This was an amazing feat because Wayne only had one arm. One arm didn't stop Wayne from doing anything, including getting this ladder.

Elizabeth and all the girls kept the bucket brigade supplied with water. They took turns cranking water from the well. Turning, turning, and turning, until the bucket of water was up to the top of the well. They poured the water into buckets, pots, roaster pans and dish pans - anything they could get their hands on that held water. The bucket would be thrown down the well again, and the job of cranking would start all over again. When Elizabeth got tired, Eliza and Laura took their turns. The girls were strong. Their father had taught them to be strong. He knew his girls needed to grow up to be strong women, and he was proud of them all.

Sarah, being eight years old, had the job of filling the empty pots, buckets and pans that were placed before her. Mary Elizabeth, Eliza and Alice carried the filled pots and buckets to the rain barrel, trying to keep it filled.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from The Adventures of Captain Heman Kenney and Lady Catherine 1833-1917by Catherine Kenney Wilcoxson Copyright © 2009 by Catherine Kenney Wilcoxson. Excerpted by permission.
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